Oakwood School, Huntsville, Alabama
By G. H. BABER
After long months of sadness the Lord has caused Oakwood school to be glad and to rejoice. For months our school had been subjected to suspicion and evil surmising to such a degree that the enemy seemed to triumph over an institution of the Lord. The report was circulated that the school was broken up, and all the students had returned to their homes. But we are happy to be able to report that, however much mischief may have been wrought by the evil one, God has not forsaken us, nor has he refused to manifest himself to us when we sought him with the whole heart. So at the present time we are rejoicing in the evidence of his presence with us. Up to this writing thirteen of our students have decided to give themselves to the Lord, and were baptized on the 16th inst. This leaves only four or five of our old students who have not yet taken their stand on the Lord’s side. We are praying that these also may surrender, that we may present a solid front to the attacks of the enemy. Through the missionary efforts of our students some of our neighbors have taken their stand with us, and are keeping the Sabbath. We have hope of others also. We have five consecrated students from the republic of Panama, some of whom are very anxious to take the nurses’ course, that they may be the more useful to their own people when they return to their homes; but we are not so situated that we can give them the needed instruction, as we have no sanitarium, no treatment rooms, not even a bath-tub, in connection with the ten-year-old Seventh-day Adventist institution known as the Oakwood Manual Training-school. Even if we had such a luxury as a bath-tub, we would not have sufficient water to use it in a dry season. We need a better water-supply, we need our buildings protected by paint, we need a new laundry building, and a milk house where we can teach our students how to care for milk and to make good butter. We have an unfinished shed for farm implements. One of our new cottages needs a wood-house. And, moreover, according to the instructions given us by the spirit of prophecy we need more new buildings in order to accommodate a much larger number of students than we can now accommodate. But we dare not think of more new ones until we can pay for those just erected. “The Lord calls upon his people to help the Southern field. This call brings with it a solemn, sacred responsibility, which can not be evaded. The field speaks for itself. Neglected, down-trodden, oppressed, ignorant—who need our help more than the colored people of the South? Let this field be helped, without waiting until every other call for help is answered. God calls for a right appropriation of his means, that the work may enlarge and extend where it is a positive necessity that it shall enlarge and extend, where such extension will help other barren and forsaken parts of the vineyard.” “The deepest humility should be felt by those who have the privileges of enlightenment and education in missionary lines. The Lord God of heaven, by whom all actions are weighed in the golden balances of the sanctuary, looks upon the thousands of colored people, our neighbors, who in their destitution are spreading their cases before the Giver of all mercies and blessings. These people are perishing in their sins. As a people they are ignorant, many knowing nothing of purity and godliness and elevation. But among them are men and women of quick perceptions, excellent talents, and these will be revealed when once the Spirit of God shall turn their attention to the Word. But they need ministry not in the Word alone. Those who would do God’s service in this field must go among the people. . . . “In his providence, God is saying, as he has been saying for years past: Here is a field for you to work. Those who are wise in agricultural lines, in tilling the soil, those who can construct simple, plain buildings, may help. They can do good work, and at the same time show in their characters the high morality which it is the privilege of this class to attain to. Teach them the truth in simple object-lessons. Make everything upon which they lay their hands a lesson in character building. “The South is calling to God for spiritual and temporal food, but it has been so long neglected that hearts have become hard as stone. God’s people need now to arouse and redeem their sinful neglect and indifference of the past. These obligations now rest heavily upon the churches, and God will graciously pour out his Spirit upon those who will take up their God-given work.” Now, brethren, as the time is at hand for the yearly collection to be taken for the colored work in the South, we who are here and know of the crying needs of the field, appeal to you not to forget this long-neglected branch of God’s work. G. H. BABER.